September news from Freddie van Mierlo

Summer recess at the end of July came not a moment too soon, allowing for a short break and time to take stock.

Your growing constituency team

I’m delighted to announce that over the summer I have recruited an incredibly talented team of local people who will be dedicated to constituency casework and policy matters. I know they will do a fantastic job.

I’d also like to thank everyone who has written to me for their continued patience whilst our new team are recruited. In the weeks following my election, the volume of emails coming in far outpaced the volume of emails that could be handled - we are now working through the backlog and you can soon expect to receive a response from myself or a member of my team.

Summer tour

Summer has also been an opportunity to get out and about again across the constituency.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the Ridgeway and Thames Path on a walk and talk with National Trails, as well as meeting with the Henley Baptist Church to view the huge range of services offered, and doing a spot of water quality testing with Henley and Marlow River Action.

In Sonning Common I spoke with wine growers, footballers, and conservationists at the farmers market – as well as purchasing some treats for my two dogs

In Thame, I met with local councillors to discuss concerns over progress in delivering the Thame to Haddenham cycleway, and residents' campaign against proposals for a concrete crushing facility - I'll be joining local residents on 29th September at their planned demonstration, and attending the planning meeting with Oxfordshire County Council in October

Finally, I was honoured to officially open the regatta for the disabled in Henley and witness the mighty Mencap team speed to victory!

Action on cost of living:

Last week I voted twice against the Government's plans to cut the Winter Fuel Payment. Speaking with pensioners at Horspath Hub, it was clear that this measure won’t only remove payments from the wealthiest but will hit many struggling people hard. We will continue opposing this cut, and demanding the government to rethink

Sewage and rivers:

Liberal Democrats are continuing to call on the government to deliver root and branch reform of the water industry – not tinker around the edges. The Government’s plan to restrict water bosses bonuses is welcome, but won’t deliver the investment in infrastructure needed. I joined Henley Town Council in declaring no confidence in Thames Water in my maiden speech in the House of Commons.

NHS:

During the election I promised to make health my top priority. Over the summer I started as I mean to go own, writing to the Secretary of State Wes Streeting to demand a consultation on the loss of step-down beds in Henley. I also met with the head of the Royal Berkshire Hospital to discuss the new hospital programme (remember the 40 hospitals the Tories promised and failed to deliver?) and services they deliver at the Townlands in Henley. This month I’ll be meeting with the head of the NHS locally (the ICB) and with Oxford Health

Surgeries

This month I held my first online surgeries with residents. Going forward, I will be holding weekly online surgeries, alongside regular in person surgeries at venues around the constituency. If you would like to attend one, please get in touch with Freddie.vanmierlo.mp@parliament.uk